Malappuram: The Indian Union Muslim
League Kerala state committee has appealed to all section of society to
voice strong opposition to the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO)
promulgated by the Central Government. A meeting held here on 27 October,
under the chairmanship of IUML state president Syed Muhammad Ali Shihab
Thangal, urged the government to reconsider the law since it would trigger
apprehensions in the minds of the minorities. The IUML opined that the
draconian law is bound to be misused. People have such experience in the
past when the dreaded TADA was grossly misused.

In a resolution passed by the state committee, the party said the
Ordinance would open new chapters of human right violations and denial of
fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution. The party said that
the new law militated against established norms of justice since it armed
the police with wide powers that could put innocent people in police
custody without trial for three months. The party called for a joint fight
against this harsh law.

The meeting also condemned the US attacks on Afghanistan. Terrorism is
alien to Islam, as most of its victims are innocent and defenseless human
beings. But the brutal mass killings of innocent people including a large
number of women and children in Afghanistan under the guise of
anti-terrorist operations is in no way a means to curb the menace posed by
terrorism. The war waged against Afghanistan could not be justified since
the US had not been able to fix responsibility on anyone for the attack in
New York and Washington.

Another resolution passed by the state committee said that the intentions
behind the special Ayodhya cell set up at the Prime Ministers Office were
doubtful. The move, which coincided with the inflammable speeches and
dubious statements that are being made by the Home Minister LK Advani, an
ardent advocate and promoter of the so-called cultural nationalism,
created fears in the minds of Muslims. The cell was created without
consulting representatives of the Babri Masjid Action Committee.

The state committee has also decided to go to appeal against the High
Court order restricting the use of loud speakers in the mosques to make
prayer calls. q